Sarah Again

 Los Angeles, California

Cin and I went to see Sarah McLachlan at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown LA (DTLA). It is a theater that opened in 1926 as part of the Orpheum vaudeville circuit in Los Angeles. The Orpheum was refurbished in 2001 and is arguably the best-preserved theater of its era in Los Angeles. It is a majestic space. And, we had great seats, in the 8th row. I can't think of another artist I would be willing to pay to see twice in one year. And I was even more excited to see her this second time as she featured her new album, Better Broken.

We went out for sushi before the concert, and arrived early. Sarah performed the first two songs acoustically, just Sarah and the piano. The first song she sang was the title song from her new album, Better Broken. The second was Possession, which I had put on a playlist I had made for Joel, early in our relationship.

By the third song, I leaned over to Cin and whispered She's having voice issues. And she was. It was the last night of her nine-city tour, which followed her Fumbling Toward Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour last summer. And she had canceled some of the final performances as a result of laryngitis. Don't get me wrong. Sarah McLachlan with voice issues is still better than anything else that I've tried (lyric from her song, Ice Cream). And we both enjoyed her concert immensely.

There was a time, back about twenty years ago, when Cin and I spent time in Carmel together and listened to Sarah's Mirrorball excessively. So her music has always held some special meaning for us both. And, as I remarked to a friend later: There is not an emotion in my body that she hasn't written songs about. So after the concert, I listened incessantly to Better Broken. So much so, that I was waking up in the middle of the night by the ear worm of various songs from the album. I had to back off at that point, but returned to listen to it in a more regulated manner shortly afterwards. Ear worm is gone, but I am waking up to her One in a Long Line, which is my favorite song on an album of great songs.

It was a lovely way to end the month and start the December Christmas season with all of the traditions it brings. Starting with the Christmas mugs that came out of storage the day after Thanksgiving. That's the rule. No Christmas in the house until the day after turkey. Although we did listen to A Charlie Brown Christmas on our way home from Connie's home after Thanksgiving dinner. I love that album, but have a feeling it will be my second-most listened to over the coming weeks. 

The Pandynamic Period

Los Angeles, California

We flew home from Carmel the first week of November. After months of a weird sciatic flareup, I was feeling better, more able to get back to my workouts and, as happens after a break, feeling charged up to get things done. But how to do that with regular and scattered appointments plus luncheon dates with friends? My mind harkened back to the pandemic again and thought with distorted longing about the blank pages on my 2020 calendar. Was I wishing for another epidemic? Not in the least. But, I was wishing for uncharted days. And so, I created them.

I canceled my pilates, and my weekly housecleaner and scheduled nothing else for six days.  And I dug in. I did organizing, long-overdue house projects, paperwork (including dreaded filing), laundry and even ironing. I got a lot done. By the third day, I started to flag and truthfully accomplished less, but got a second wind and finished strong.

Was it worthwhile and what did I learn from the experience? First, yes it was. But six days was too much. Three or four days with a good foot under you, will do just as well. Every month or every quarter? Maybe every other month. The odd months, as December is a non-starter.

As time passes, I find myself scheduling more and more things on a standing basis. Lynnette comes to stay once a month, or at least we schedule it that way. Now that both Joel's and my body are returning to pre-injury days, we will work our way back to our Tuesday + Sunday dancing schedule. Having things to look forward to is key to a contented life.

And of course the holidays are coming and there is much to look forward to in that alone. We are invited to my friend, Connie's, house for Thanksgiving. We have been going there most years, and it is a wonderful experience to feel part of a family again. Then, we'll eat cracked crab for Christmas Eve, and roast a duck for Christmas Day. If there's enough left, duck tamales may happen for New Year's.

Then, on to the unknown in 2026, but hopefully with six Pandynamic Periods to stay productive and organized. I have always thought that there is a tipping point in life when people lose control. It usually starts with their garages. And once lost, it is never regained. I hope to avoid this by scheduling those days to dig in and insert some measure of control into the chaos of my home and life. Ok, maybe chaos is too strong of a word. Let's just say, as I often have, that it's not about getting my life together. Rather the goal is to scrape it all into one pile. But the new goal is to attack and manage the pile. Which I think can be done with regular pandynamic periods. I mean, really, who needs Marie Kondo? You just need some unscheduled time and undeficient attention. Right? Check back in with me in January to see how that's going. Fingers crossed.